There are quite a few people who are uncomfortable with the term "spirituality" in that it is vague, nebulous, cloudy, and unclear. Were the different religions created to cover up the cloudiness so as not to scare those who are afraid of clouds?
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"Spiritual but not religious"
- Thread starter PassionFruit53
- Start date
Sha'irullah
رسول الآلهة
I prefer the term deism or mystical. Spirituality is something more along the lines of Buddhism if you ask me. Deism is achieving god through rationality and intellect rather then dogma. It is very sad to see people blindly follow dogma and holy scriptures so blindly. The new age Spiritual Movement is tends to be rather ignorant on key issues such as uniting faiths though. Fundamentalism has such a strong yet negative foothold that seeing people break free from it is encouraging for mankind's future.
I see it as almost opposite to this. At least in English, the word "spiritual" has its roots firmly in religion. IMO, using the word "spiritual" to mean something distinct from religion is a very new development. Historically, "spiritual" was virtually synonymous with "religious".
Alceste
Vagabond
Or perhaps with being a spiritualist?
Me Myself
Back to my username
spiritual
Pronunciation: /ˈspɪrɪtʃʊəl, -tjʊəl/
Translate spiritual | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of spiritual
adjective
1relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things:
I’m responsible for his spiritual welfare
having a relationship based on a profound level of mental or emotional communion:
he never forgot his spiritual father
(of a person) not concerned with material values or pursuits.
2relating to religion or religious belief
the country’s spiritual leader
Thats oxford dictionary btw
Pronunciation: /ˈspɪrɪtʃʊəl, -tjʊəl/
Translate spiritual | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of spiritual
adjective
1relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things:
I’m responsible for his spiritual welfare
having a relationship based on a profound level of mental or emotional communion:
he never forgot his spiritual father
(of a person) not concerned with material values or pursuits.
2relating to religion or religious belief
the country’s spiritual leader
Thats oxford dictionary btw
Being a spiritualist? That's a relatively new thing, too:
Spiritualism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Me Myself
Back to my username
When people talk about "the spirit" of a law, they rarely are talking about a belief of an actual spiritual entity looking over such law. "Spirit" has moved beyond the realm of religion and the supernatural for a good time now.
The oxford dictionary does tell us it is appropiate to use the word spiritual to describe a deep relationship with no religious ties, in case of people saying they are spiritual, this relationship is with themselves.
The oxford dictionary does tell us it is appropiate to use the word spiritual to describe a deep relationship with no religious ties, in case of people saying they are spiritual, this relationship is with themselves.
Yes, that's one current sense of the word, but its usage in that sense is relatively recent. Historically, "spiritual" was more closely associated with that second sense:
No, they're using the term metaphorically, in the sense of "spirit" as a "soul" or "essence".
The Oxford Dictionary says nothing about what is "appropriate"; it merely documents how words are used.
Look - I never said that people who use the term "spirituality" to describe something non-religious are wrong. What I'm saying is that spirituality wasn't some pre-existing concept that religion co-opted; I'm saying that modern-day spirituality was derived from religion, even if the people who describe themselves as "spiritual" want to distance themselves from religion.
Then this raises the question: why did religions start if not due to spirituality?
OK, I think I might have an explanation for all the vitriol that both the religious and the secular rationalists have been slinging at those who call themselves "spiritual but not religious." {Many of those posts have been deleted from this thread. It's the reason why I put "lazy cop-out heretic" in my title.} It has to do with the difference between "cheap grace" vs "costly grace." (The costly grace to the secular rationalists is the continual application of rationality, which takes work, and to the religious, it is "paying your dues," so to speak.)
The "costly" perception is what leads to the mudslinging and squabbling.
Tao Te Ching
The "costly" perception is what leads to the mudslinging and squabbling.
Tao Te Ching
Chapter 12
The five colors make one blind in the eyes
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth
Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart
Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage
Therefore the sages care for the stomach and not the eyes
That is why they discard the other and take this
Chapter 3
Do not glorify the achievers
So the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So their hearts will not be confused
The five colors make one blind in the eyes
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth
Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart
Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage
Therefore the sages care for the stomach and not the eyes
That is why they discard the other and take this
Chapter 3
Do not glorify the achievers
So the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So their hearts will not be confused
Thief
Rogue Theologian
Sha'irullah
رسول الآلهة
Spirituality is where true religion is at. Religion should be dictated by the a man at the pulpit or a prophet on an altar. Religion is the law that you create for yourself and is only understood by yourself.
I see others arguing over holy scriptures and philosophy yet all of these texts were written by other men and not the adherents debating the texts validity and truths
I see others arguing over holy scriptures and philosophy yet all of these texts were written by other men and not the adherents debating the texts validity and truths
Adventuremrkt
New Member
In my point of view, it is not important to consider yourself as a believer of a religion but rather just to believe in something. classifying it makes yourself fit in to a box of assumptions and cutting out everything else.
I just read an article about religious freedom in america. It explains that religion as such does not have to be neccessary classified...
superbious.com/Religious/article_127_My-Fathers-Religious-Freedom.html]My Father's Religious Freedom
In case anybody wants to read some more...
I think that this point of view is interesting... I'm not saying that classifying is bad. I am just pointing out the fact that believing in something bigger is should be the main focus when talking about religion
I just read an article about religious freedom in america. It explains that religion as such does not have to be neccessary classified...
superbious.com/Religious/article_127_My-Fathers-Religious-Freedom.html]My Father's Religious Freedom
In case anybody wants to read some more...
I think that this point of view is interesting... I'm not saying that classifying is bad. I am just pointing out the fact that believing in something bigger is should be the main focus when talking about religion
Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
I guess personal dogma doesn't count.
Thief
Rogue Theologian
I don't propose any dogma....none at all.
No rituals, congregations, temple worship, prayers, or details of belief needing faith.
I believe in God for a variety of reasons....and causes.
Not because someone told me so.
Not because I read about God in a book.
Not because I might die.
Cause and effect.